Precursor Buzz: Could Scarlett Johansson get an Oscar Nomination for "Her"? & Other Recipients.

Scarlett Johansson has had an interesting career ever since her she burst onto the scene. She gained indie cred and acclaim with roles in "North" and "Ghost World", but her breakout role in Sofia Coppola's "Lost In Translation". She unexpectedly won the BAFTA award for Best Leading Actress (though she missed out on the Oscar), and turned in another acclaimed performance in the little seen "Girl With The Pearl Earring", and again in Woody Allen's "Match Point".


However, it seemed as if Johansson just sort of gave up on serious acting for a few years after this, opting to star in films like "The Island", "The Black Dahlia", "The Nanny" and "The Spirit" (that's a lot of "the"). Her performances became less and less inspired, and it seemed whatever promise she had shown in her previous work had faded; was she simply okay with being a sex symbol?

Apparently not. She came back fighting (literally) last year as Black Widow in Joss Whedon's "The Avenegers", carving out a fully developed and strong female hero (the only one, I might add) who successfully held her own against the overwhelming amount of men that rounded out the ensemble. And if that wasn't enough, she's turned out three very different performances in three equally different films this year, proving she's still the exciting, hard working and versatile actress she once promised us she was.

But it's her work in Spike Jonze's "Her" that's really catching on with critics. Despite it being a voice performance, it's attracting the best reviews of Johansson's career, and some are predicting she could land an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. I've included her in my long list of predictions simply because the noise is getting too loud to ignore, but now it's at a fever pitch; Johansson has won her very first acting trophy of the awards season for her work, and one wonders if other groups will follow.

The Rome Film Festival has announced Scarlett Johansson as their choice for the recipient of this years Best Actress award. Though the festival isn't in the same league as Venice, Telluride or Toronto, you can't ignore Johansson's win here. The last time there was this much acclaim for a non traditional performance, it was Andy Serkis' VFX assisted turn in 2011's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and he did land some major award nominations, however, he missed out on the big awards. But what Johansson has that Serkis didn't is the angle of a "Career Resurgence" for her impending campaign. As I mentioned, her versatile turns this year have won her large levels acclaim, especially her performance as a loud mouthed, hilarious, gorgeous Jersey Girl in Joseph Gordon-Levitt's, "Don Jon".

With 3 strongly acclaimed performances, it'll be hard to forget Johansson this year, and you can certainly expect the critics will award her for all 3 (ala Jessica Chastain in 2011 for her 4 celebrated roles, also in the Supporting Actress category), but look for Her to be the film they focus on, the role that will ultimately be her playing card to become a nominee at the Oscars next year. Will it work? It's certainly a long shot, but this small win could get the ball rolling; at this point, anything is possible.

Speaking of career resurgences, the only person having a bigger one than ScarJo is Matthew McConaughey, who started his back last year with his killer turn in "Magic Mike". He was an Oscar hopeful after winning the coveted NYFC award for Best Supporting Actor, but ultimately missed out on the big prize. But that didn't stop him from continuing a streak of awards worthy work, he was also fantastic in little indie "Bernie", and "Killer Joe". This year, he's back with buzzy roles in "Wolf of Wall Street", and "Mud" which could win him love in the Supporting Actor category again. But his weight shedding leading role in acclaimed "Dallas Buyers Club" is winning him incredible raves, and a Best Actor trophy from the Rome Film Festival. Could goodwill from last year and acclaim from this year finally deliver the goods? Right now, everyone has either him or 12 Years A Slave's Chiwetel Ejiofor for the win, so it's very possible McConaughey could find himself at the Kodak Theater after being overlooked last year.

But if there was ever a sure thing this year, it's that Gravity star Sandra Bullock will find herself amongst four other women (including Cate Blanchett) competing for Best Actress next year. The question is, can she win her second Oscar? The Palm Springs International Film Festival has chosen Bullock as their pick for Leading Actress this year. The past recipients of this award included Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron, and Anne Hathaway, all of whom went on to win Oscars in their respective years, so it certainly doesn't hurt to be honored. Matthew McConaughey will also be honored at the same ceremony, adding another trophy to his shelf this year.

After so much uncertainty, the frontrunners are starting to show themselves. Dec 3 will narrow the race even further, when the NYFC announce their winners, and begin the onslaught of seemingly endless critics awards.